# Lei cha

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{{Short description|Southern Chinese tea-based beverage}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2021}}
thumb|Hakka lei cha
{{Infobox Chinese|t=擂茶|s=擂茶|hp=léichá|phfs=lùi-chhà}}

'''Lei cha''' ({{zh|c=擂茶|p=léi chá|l=pounded tea}}; pronounced {{IPAc-cmn|l|ei|2|-|ch|a|2}}) <!--Need Hakka pronunciation--> or '''ground tea''' is a [Southern Chinese](/source/Southern_Chinese) [tea](/source/tea)-based [beverage](/source/Drink) or [gruel](/source/gruel) in [Hakka cuisine](/source/Hakka_cuisine).<ref name="scmp">{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3010263/hakka-cuisine-singapore-where-find-leicha-thunder-tea-rice-and|title=Plant-based thunder tea rice and other Hakka dishes in Singapore|date=16 May 2019}}</ref>

==History==
The custom of ''lei cha'' began in the [Three Kingdoms](/source/Three_Kingdoms) period or even in the [Han dynasty](/source/Han_dynasty). It is very common among [Hakka people](/source/Hakka_people) in Hakka regions of [Taiwan](/source/Taiwan). It was brought by Hakka people to Taiwan, [Indonesia](/source/Indonesia), [Malaysia](/source/Malaysia), and any locales with a substantial Hakka [diaspora](/source/diaspora) population. Besides Hakka ''lei cha'', ''lei cha'' is also traditional among [Hunanese people](/source/Hunanese_people) in northern [Hunan](/source/Hunan).

''Lei cha'' is not the same as [Taiwanese tea](/source/Taiwanese_tea) because there are always other ingredients. Ground tea consists of a mix of tea leaves and [herb](/source/herb)s that are ground together with various roasted [nut](/source/Nut_(fruit))s, [seed](/source/seed)s, [grain](/source/grain)s, and flavorings.

==Production==
Although ''lei cha'' can be bought commercially prepared and prepackaged, the drink is usually made "from scratch" immediately before consumption.

==Ingredients and preparation==
thumb|''Lei cha'' (right) served with a bowl of rice and vegetarian toppings (left)

Ground tea is a varying mix of:
*Tea leaves – any type of tea leaf can be used, but the most popular and common are either [green tea](/source/green_tea) or [oolong](/source/oolong); for ease of use, sometimes [matcha](/source/matcha) (finely milled [green tea](/source/green_tea)) is used
*Roasted [nut](/source/Nut_(fruit))s, [legume](/source/legume)s and [seed](/source/seed)s – the most commonly used are [peanut](/source/peanut)s, [mung bean](/source/mung_bean)s, and [sesame](/source/sesame); other examples include [soybean](/source/soybean)s, [pine nut](/source/pine_nut)s, [pumpkin](/source/pumpkin) seeds, [sunflower seed](/source/sunflower_seed)s, [lentil](/source/lentil)s, and [lotus seed](/source/lotus_seed)s
*Roasted [grain](/source/grain)s – examples: cooked or puffed [rice](/source/rice), [wheat](/source/wheat)
*[Herb](/source/Herb)s and flavorings – examples: [ginger](/source/ginger), salt
*[Chinese herbal medicine](/source/Chinese_herbal_medicine) may be included for health purposes

The ingredients are ground to a powder the consistency of fine cornmeal in a [food processor](/source/food_processor), with a [mortar and pestle](/source/mortar_and_pestle), or in a large earthenware basin with a wooden stick. The powder is placed into a serving bowl and hot water is stirred into it to produce a thin [soup-like](/source/soup) beverage.

==Consumption==
{{original research section|date=August 2016}}
The tea is drunk for [breakfast](/source/breakfast) or on cold winters for taste and perceived restorative benefits.

''Lei cha'' may also be taken as a dietary brew. In that case, it is served with rice and other vegetarian side dishes such as greens, tofu, and pickled radish. A variety of ''lei cha'' popular as ''khai lang lei cha'' is sold as street food in [Malaysia](/source/Malaysia).

Traditionally, lei cha is a savory brew; however, in contemporary interpretations it is often consumed as a sweet drink.

==See also==
* [Chazuke](/source/Chazuke)
* [Hunan cuisine](/source/Hunan_cuisine)
* [Taiwanese cuisine](/source/Taiwanese_cuisine)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://archive.today/20031206182645/http://hakkacenter.nctu.edu.tw/item_4/item_4-4.htm History and cultural significance of ''lei cha'']

{{Teas}}
{{Hakka cuisine}}
{{Taiwanese cuisine}}

Category:Hakka
Category:Hakka cuisine
Category:Blended tea
Category:Taiwanese tea
Category:Tea culture
Category:Hakka culture in Taiwan
Category:Hakka culture in Singapore

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Lei cha](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lei_cha) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lei_cha?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.